Anne Gunning (1929-1990) started modeling in Ireland in 1953. First photographed by photographer Milton Greene, she went on to be photographed by the greatest photographers of the day. She gained global recognition after being featured on the cover of Life magazine in 1953.

Gunning limited herself to photographic modelling, despite requests from designers like Coco Chanel to be a part of their stage shows. She did only one fashion show – for Sybil Connolly – as a favour. She was afraid of falling down on the stage, and remarked:

“that sea of faces glaring at me was too daunting.”

She worked in Paris, New York and London. She and fellow model Barbara Mullen even accompanied Norrman Parkinson to India, on an assignment for Vogue.

From his early days as a photographer up to his death Norman Parkinson remained one of the foremost British portrait and fashion photographers. His work, following the lead of Martin Munkacsi at Harper’s Bazaar, revolutionised the world of British fashion photography in the 1940s by bringing his models from the rigid studio environment into a far more dynamic outdoor setting. Humour played a central role in many of his photographs which often included himself.

From 1935 to 1940 he worked for Harper’s Bazaar and Bystander magazines. During the Second World War he served as a reconnaissance photographer over France for the Royal Air Force. In 1947 he married the actress and model Wenda Rogerson. From 1945 to 1960 he was employed as a portrait and fashion photographer for Vogue.